Method and means for extinguishing film fire



Dez: 5, 1950 B. B. SAVAGE METHOD AND MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FILM FIRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1947 FIGJ INVENTOR. bYQoN D. SAVAGE ATTORNEYS QLMWH Rum Dec. 5, 1950 B. B. SAVAGE 2,532,949

METHOD AND MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FILM FIRE Filed Dec. 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. bYllON E). SAVAGE.

BY Gm ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1950 mass UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FILM FIRE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing means and method, and more particularly but not by way of limitation to a method and means for extinguishing the fire in the magazine or housing for a roll of film utilized with a motion picture projection machine.

It is well known that the usual motion picture film is composed of a highly inflammable material, such as cellulose nitrate or the like, and which has a great tendency to ignite from almost any cause. Common causes of igniting such highly inflammable material are, the carelessnesses of cigaret sparks from the motion picture machine operator, or the highly intensified are light of the projection machine remaining too long in contact with the inflammable film. Combustion of the film is instantaneously violent, creating a shooting flame which is extremely dangerous to the operator. Furthermore, the flame will rapidly burn all the film encased in the magazine to endanger the projection machine, and other auxiliary equipment in the projection room, the theater building, including the patrons therein.

It is well known that many attempts have been made to combat the fire hazard of inflammable motion picture film, wherein containers of carbon dioxide or the like have been utilized to combat fires of this type. However, it has been found that the nearer preclusion or exclusion of oxygen by the use of carbon dioxide will not completely extinguish the film fire.

The present invention is concerned generally with the use of a carbon dioxide container disposed adjacent the projection machine so that the carbon dioxide may be discharged from the container through a high pressure jet communicating with the magazine or film housing in such a manner to cause an immediate gyra-.

tion or rotation of the filmdisposed within the magazine, and simultaneous with a smothering of the fire by the carbon dioxide. Furthermore, high pressure or jetting action of the carbon dioxide will remove the burnt ash of the burning film in order to expedite extinguishing the fire.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an apparatus for extinguishing fires in motion picture projection machines wherein carbon dioxide under pressure is discharged through a controlled orifice disposed and fixed immovable relative to the film magazine in order to cause an expeditious and immediate suppression of the fire.

Another object of the invention includes the use of a carbon dioxide for extinguishing fire in a highly inflammable motion picture film, wherein carbon dioxide under pressure is discharged into the film magazine in such a manner as to cause a gyratory or rotating action of the film roll simultaneous with the smothering characteristics of the carbon dioxide to extinguish the fire.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a method for suppressing fire in highly inflammable motion picture film by discharging controlled carbon dioxide into the film magazine in such a manner to cause a jet action of the carbon dioxide whereby the loosely mounted film will be immediately rotated causing separation of burnt ash from the film, simultaneous with the smoldering effect of the carbon dioxide for completely extinguishing the flame.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for extinguishing fire in highly inflammable motion picture film wherein a control panel for discharging a, fire extinguishing medium directly to the film magazine is placed in a position remote from the magazine, but may be easily actuated to cause operation of the film extinguishing medium without jeopardizing the safety of the operator.

An additional object of this invention is to ing the fire in highly inflammable film of motion picture projection machines which is simple in operation, efficient and efiective in its desired result.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the extinguishing apparatus (in full lines) cooperating with a motion picture projection machine (shown in dotted lines) for efiecting a, discharge of carbon dioxide to the film magazine.

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the film magazme.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of the film magazine.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the coupling nut utilized with the magazine.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly Figure 1, reference character 2 indicates generally a motion picture projection machine of any suitable type, such as used in the normal projection room of the modern theater. The projection machine is shown in dotted lines in order to clarify and set out the application of the fire extinguishing apparatus as will be hereinafter set forth. Any suitable container 4 filled with carbon dioxide or similar extinguishing medium is preferably disposed in a bracket 6 secured in any suitable manner to the base 8 of the projection machine 2. The bracket 6 is provided with the usual strap It) for supporting the carbon dioxide container 4 in a substantially vertical upright position as shown in Figure 1.

The neck of the container 2 is provided with the usual valve l2 which will be hereinafter referred to. The valve l2 as shown in Figure 1 is in communication with a conduit M such as any suitable copper or aluminum tubing, extending vertically upward into communication with a fitting 16 such as a four-way nipple shown in Figure 1. It will be apparent that any suitable fitting or nipple may be utilized in accordance with the particular set up reouired. An additional section of tubing designated 18 extends upwardly from the nipple into connection with the outer periphery l8 of the magazine or housing 20 for the fi m 22. In the present day motion picture projection machines the film magazines are usually in duplicate and mounted in vertical spaced relation hip at the rear of the machine. However, it will be apparent that the extinguishing apparatus may be utilized when only one film magazine is used. The film magazine 20 is usua l a segmental housing having outer side plat s 2| separated from the peri heral circular housing Ill. The film is us ally contained in the per pheral hou ing l8 and su port d on any suita le shaft 24 adapt d to be, loosely mounted in the ho sing plates 2| for facilitat ng rotation of the film holder being fed into the projection port on of the machine 2. Th magazine. plates 2| are s ported in anv suitable manner such as upstanding brackets 23 at the rear of t e ro ect on machine.

As c earl sho n in Figure 3, the outer end of the up ardl extend ng tubin I! connects with the peripheral housing I 8 of the magazin gener llv indicat d as 20. The. o ter end of tubin I1 is flar d at 28 after r ceiv ng a c rcular retai ing ring 3|! surroun ing the tubing l1 and ada t d to coo e ate wit a bore 32 of a coup ing nut 34. The cou l n nut 34 is threadedlv connected with a r t ning n t 38 having an outwardlv extending fl nge portion 3 engag n the inner p rip er of t circ l r housing 8. he nut 36 is pro ided with a centrally d s o ed bore or recess 40 of su i'antia l the same diameter as the inn r periphery of the tubing IT. The bore 4!! is in communi ation ith th tubing l1, and also in commun ation ith an ang ed or inc ined pas ageway 42 prov ded in th nut 36. The. p ageway or port 42 communicates with the interior of the s mental magazine 20 in a fixed directional relation as clearly shown in Figure 3 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

Referrin to Figure 1 the container or cartr dge 4 is provided with the valve I2 of any suita le type and is preferablv disposed at the neck end of the container 4. The valve I 2 comprises the usual valve handle 46 of any suitable type which when moved upwardly will operate a trigger valve (not shown) disposed inside the container or cartridge 4, in order to release the carbon dioxide under pressure contained in the cartridge 4. The operation of the handle 46 is done in the following manner. A yoke 48 is secured to and encircles the valve l2 and handle 46. One end 50 of the yoke 48 is connected in any suitable manner (not shown) with a flexible tubing 54 having a steel cable (not shown) disposed therein. The cable extends through a nipple 52 into connection with one end of the handle 46 in a manner not shown. The opposite end of the tubing 54 is anchored to a bracket 56 secured to the base 8 of the projection machine 2. A handle 58 connects with bracket end of the cable for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. A coupling 60 connects the tubing l4 for communication with the valve I2 in a manner not shown.

Operation It will be apparent when the film becomes ignited from any cause, an outward pull of the handle 58 will cause a simultaneous pull on the cable (not shown) to cause a movement of the handle 46, and thereby operate the valve to release the carbon dioxide under pressure in the container 4. The carbon dioxide is discharged through the tubing I4, nipple l6, tubing [1, bore 40, and jet passageway 42 into the interior of the magazine 20. The reduced diameter of the passageway 42 relative to the bore 40 will cause a high velocity and jetting action of the discharging carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the inclined disposition of the passageway 42 will direct the discharging carbon dioxide into the magazine 26 at an angle (Fig. 3) to the reel 22 causing a rotation thereof.

The combined effect of discharging the carbon dioxide at an extremely high velocity, and directing the flow into the magazine 20 at an angle relative to the film will cause the carbon dioxide to contact the burning film r011 immediately and. cause a rotation or gyration thereof by centrifugal force, so that the burning film may be immediately extinguished or suppressed. The high pres ure jet action of the passageway 42 in its fixed relation with the film will remove all the burnt ash or debris of the rotating film, and blow it through an opening (not shown) provided by the spaced relation of the segmental housing 20 particularly between the side plates 2| and the peripheral housing portion l8 in the normal film housing.

A flaming motion picture film presents an entirely different problem than the normal fire from other volatile materials, in that it will continue to smolder and burn, and again become violent unless the burnt ash is removed therefrom. The present invention by discharging the extinguishing medium under pressure with a directional iet action against the film reel will impart thereto a gyratory motion in order to instantaneously remove the ash thereby permitting the extinguishing medium to suppress or smother the flame, as well as simultaneously remove the burning portions of the film from the remaining film reel where they are blown through the clearance of the sectional magazine 20. The decrease in temperature from the discharge of the expanding extinguishing medium absorbs any heat imparted from the flame to the metal surfaces, as well as the reel of film without any damage to either thereby permitting an immediate feeding of the remaining portion of the film. It will thus be seen that the present invention not only smothers or precludes oxygen from the film through the use of extinguishing medium in order to suppress or extinguish the fire, but additionally removes the burnt debris by the directional jetting of the extinguishing medium relative to the film reel to cause a simultaneous rotation thereof.

"tiiiiiii-i RGOM As clearly shown in Figure 3, the rotation of the film is preferable in an opposite direction to that of the normal feeding and tends to wind up the The apparatus may be utilized with a direct tubing connection for only one magazine or film housing 20, however, the use of any suitable coupling l6 may provide for an extension tubing 62 communicating with a lower duplicate magazine or film housing 20a in a manner similar to that previously set forth. It will also be apparent that one container or cartridge 4 may be utilized for servicing only one motion picture projection machine having a pair or plurality of film magazines, the coupling IG may be any suitable fourway type as shown (Fig. 1) in order to provide communication with an auxiliary tubing 64, which in turn communicates with the magazine of an additional motion picture projection machine (not shown). From the above it will be apparent that application is flexible for one or more projection machines, or any place having freelv rotatable film rolls in magazines.

Although not shown, the present method and apparatus may be utilized in film storage vaults for extinguishing the fire in film magazines stored therein. The only prerequisite required in a storage vault is that the film magazines stored are disposed in such a manner (such as a spindle) to permit free rotation of the film upon being contacted by the hi h velocity extinguishing medium.

From the forego ng it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates a method and apparatus for the efficient and instantaneous su pression of fire in highly inflammable motion picture film encased in magazines or film housings. The ext nguishing medium under pressure is released and permitted to discharge with a high velocity directional jetting action due to the disposit on of an orifice communicating with the interior of the film reel magazine in a fixed directional relation to cause rotation of the loosely mounted film reel by centrifugal force, whereby simultaneouslv with the rotation of. the film reel the extinguishing medium smothers the flaming film to extinguish the flame and removes the burnt ash from the remaining film to preclude any possibility of reignition of the hi hly inflammable film. The fixed relation of the orifice or jet passa eway is such to set the angle for the best result to cause an immediate rotation of the reel film upon discharge of the carbon dioxide into the magazine. Furthermore, the container for the extinguishing medium may be utilized for one or more motion picture proiection machines, all actuated by a single control handle disposed at a remote position in order to afford convenient accessibility to the handle to cause discharge of the extinguishing medium under pressure without any appreciable danger to the person operating the handle.

Changes may be made in the specification and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the following claims,

as set forth.

What I claim is:

l. A method of extinguishing burning motion picture film disposed on a loosely mounted reel of a film magazine, which consists of discharging an extinguishing medium under pressure into contact with the burning film, directing the discharging medium in an angled path relative to the film reel and at a high velocity to cause rotation of the film reel in a direction opposite to the normal feeding direction for removing burnt ash from the film, simultaneous with a smotherin of the flame by the extinguishing medium.

2. In a method of extinguishing burning motion picture film disposed on a loosely mounted reel of a film magazine which consists of discharging an extinguishing medium under pressure into contact with the burning film, directing the discharging medium at an angled path to the film reel and at a high velocity to cause rotation of. the film reel in a direction opposite to the normal feeding direction for instantaneously removing the burnt ash from the film, simultaneous with a smothering of the flame of the rotating film by the extinguishing medium.

3. In a method of extinguishing highly inflammable film disposed on a loosely mounted reel which consists of discharging controlled carbon dioxide under pressure into contact with the burning film, directing the discharging carbon dioxide in an angled path relative to the film reel and at a high velocity to cause rotation of the reel in a direction opposite to the normal feeding direction for instantaneously removing burnt ash from the rotating film, simultaneously smothering the flame with the discharging carbon dioxide to cause a suppression thereof.

4. In an apparatus for extinguishing burning motion picture film comprising a valve controlled container of extinguishing medium, a tubing providing communication between the container and the film reel, means cooperating with the tubing providing a directional jetting of the medium onto the reel to cause a rotation thereof in a direction opposite to the normal feeding direction of the film, said medium simultaneously smothering the flaming film, said high velocity jetting action removing the burnt ash from the extinguished film.

5. In an apparatus for extinguishing burning film comprising a container of extinguishing medium, a tubing providing communication between the container and the film reel, a reel magazine, coupling means connecting the tubing with the magazine, a port provided in the coupling means and communicating with the tubing, said port disposed in fixed angular relationship with the film reel to cause a discharge of the medium in a direction to cause rotation of the film reel opposite to that of the normal feeding direction of the film whereby burnt debris of the film is blown away from the remainder of the film, said medium simultaneously smothering the flame of the rotating film to cause an extinguishment thereof.

6. In an apparatus for extinguishing the flame in a film disposed on a loosely mounted reel of a film magazine and comprising a container of carbon dioxide, a conduit providing communication between the container and the magazine, valve means for controlling discharge of the carbon dioxide, a port disposed in the magazine and communicating with the conduit for discharging the carbon dioxide at a high velocity into the magazine, said port disposed in a fixed angular relationship with the film reel to provide discharge of the carbon dioxide in a direction to cause immediate rotation of the film reel in a direction opposite to the normal feeding direction of the film, said carbon dioxide simultaneously smothering the flame to preclude burning thereof.

'7. In an apparatus for extinguishing burning film freely rotatable in a sectional film magazine, and comprising a container of carbon dioxide communicating with the magazine, valve means for controlling the discharging of the carbon dioxide into the magazine, handle means positioned from the container for operating the valve, means for discharging the carbon dioxide into the magazine with a fixed directional jetting action to cause rotation of the film by centrifugal force in a direction opposite to the normal feed of the film, said rotation cooperating with the carbon dioxide to simultaneously remove burnt ash and smother the flame 'of the film.

8. The method of extinguishing burning motion picture film disposed on a loosely mounted reel in a. film magazine, which consists of discharging an extinguishing medium under pressure into the magazine, directing the discharging medium into the magazine at an angled path relative to the loosely mounted reel and at a high velocity, utilizing the high velocity and angled direction of the discharging medium to cause a rotation of the loosely mounted film reel in a direction opposite the normal feed. to provide a penetration therethrough of the extinguishing medium for removing burnt ash from the film, simultaneously smothering the burning film with the extinguish- 5 ing medium.

BYRON B. SAVAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

